Jay Cole

Anyone purchased ECU programming software??<br>(like VWTools)... looked thru the archives,<br>but not much info<p>Could you share your experiences:<p>- Is the product good?<br>- How's the customer support?<br>- What have you reprogrammed?<br>- Does it allow you to save/backup engine<br> tuning info (e.g. from Wett)?<br>- Can you completely backup the whole prom?<p>i'm thinking of the Wett 1.0bar chip,<br>because of it's replaceability...<br>but i may go with a less expensive<br>tuning chip if there is a way<br>to save both the factory program as<br>well as the new tuned program, so<br>i can switch between the two. (or<br>tweak them myself).<p>anything else in the dept would help<p>thanks.

Mike D

<br>Try this Web site: not sure it it will help or not<br>http://www.carcomp.com

Mike D

<br>Try this Web site: not sure it it will help or not<br>http://www.carcomp.com

donp

VWTool does not allow you to reprogram fuel, timing or boost maps. <p>It reads OBDII infomation required by the EPA (or whoever is in charge of that stuff) and it allows you to program stuff that Audi deems programable with the VAG1552 tool but not engine software itself.<br>

randall

if u are interested in making a backup PROM (programmable read only memory) u will need a PROM programming device. The high quality devices (<$400USD) allow u to download the contents of the PROM and save as a file on your harddrive, and then program another copy.<p>I have no idea if the chip tuners are keen on u doing this, even if only for backup. <p>However:<br>If u are interested (for archival purposes only) email me...<p>(i have 2 prom burners, erasers, sw etc)<p>1996 A4 2.8 QMS

Dean Gibson

I have VwTool. I don't care for how the software is designed, but it does the job it is advertised to do. Customer support is good, in my experience. It does NOT allow you to reprogram an entire control module, but only certain options (which are not documented either with the software or by Audi).<p>It is important to note that there are 8 or 9 control modules in a 1998 A4: Engine, TipTronic, Brakes, Climate Control, Air Bag, Instrument Panel, Central Locking, Interior Monitor (alarm), and the Radio. Each control module (except apparently the Brakes) have a numerical value (consisting of up to 15 binary "options") that can be set. Some values, notably all of the Engine options and most of the Instrument Panel options, require a password (which I DON'T have) in order to change them.<p>The word "reprogrammed" has several meanings in the computer business, and its use on this forum to refer to changing the above numerical value, has caused confusion. While technically the numerical value is "reprogrammed" into the chip, that does NOT mean that the control module SOFTWARE can be reprogrammed via the VAG tools or VwTool. That is why I prefer to use the phrase, "setting control module options".<p>I have used VwTool to change the Central Locking control module door locking/unlocking options as documented in the FAQ; I have discovered the option setting to display kilometers instead of miles on the odometer in the Instrument Panel; I have displayed engine parameters when the engine was running; and I have displayed and reset error codes (and the attendant idiot light) for a couple of modules.<br>

AndrewJM

lolz

Brdman*

lol

TS4F

O hai!

jlax01

rad